Armed Forces: Families

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he plans to take to support families of armed forces personnel.

Andrew Robathan: There are considerable resources available to support service families at the level of the Royal Navy Ship, Army Regiment or Royal Air Force station. these resources are usually co-ordinated by a dedicated unit welfare officer who is able to assess what sort of support is required and then make bespoke arrangements for appropriate provision, accessing relevant service, local authority or charitable sector specialists where necessary. The resources include:
	Professional social workers;
	Station and unit community groups including HIVE information centres;
	Families Welfare Grant money to support of families of deployed personnel;
	Confidential support lines;
	Families' federations
	Dedicated support groups for the bereaved (SSAFA-Forces Help).